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379th EMDG attacks flu season head on

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  With flu season right around the corner, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group is acting quickly to ensure the war fighters stationed here have the proper resources and vaccines to combat this potentially deadly virus.

"Our main role is the prevention and control of communicable diseases, and now our focus is on the influenza virus," said Capt. Felisha Stancil, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Public Health Element chief. "My team has been working diligently to ensure everyone on this installation is well prepared to fight the virus."

The flu season can begin as early as late October and last throughout May. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing received more than 9,000 flu vaccines to distribute to all U.S. service members, coalition forces and Department of Defense civilian personnel. It is mandatory and a responsibility for all U.S. active-duty military to be vaccinated.

"Since the vaccine came in, we have already vaccinated more than 4,000 personnel by setting up designated locations around the installation," said Master Sgt. Beverly Lutz, 379th MDG Immunizations element chief. "We set up these locations to provide everyone a quick and convenient way to get vaccinated without having to find a way to get to the clinic."

The 379th MDG Immunizations team expects 95 percent of the base to have their vaccines by week's end. The Centers for Disease Control states that annual vaccinations are important because influenza is unpredictable. Flu viruses are constantly changing and immunity from vaccination declines over time.

Receiving the flu shot isn't the end-all, be-all to preventing the spread of the virus. The Public Health team works diligently to stop the spread of diseases by monitoring hygiene and sanitation practices and continuously inspecting all food and public facilities on the installation.

"We are looking for critical items that can potentially increase the risks of spreading the flu virus or any foodborne illnesses," said Staff Sgt. Ricardo Lemos, 379th EMDG Public Health operations manager deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. "We also make recommendations on how to improve and eliminate those risks."

The Public Health team thoroughly inspects common-use areas on a regular basis. Public facility inspections on the base gyms, cadillacs and community activity centers are efficiently conducted to check for cleanliness and any maintenance issues that may impact the overall quality of health standards.

Another way to counteract and prevent the spread of the flu virus is to maintain proper hygiene practices. Simple things like hand washing and coughing or sneezing into your upper sleeve or a tissue can go a long way in stopping the virus from getting out of hand.

"This is truly a team effort between many organizations on the installation," said Stancil. "But, ultimately it's every individual's responsibility to make the effort to put these prevention and control measures into action."

Flu vaccines will be available at the 379th MDG Clinic for those who haven't received their shot at a satellite location this week. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for vaccinations.